Versailles’ third sinks Covington

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VERSAILLES – The Versailles Tigers exploded for 21 third quarter points to defeat the visiting Covington Buccaneers 49 -29 in non-conference to give Versailles its first win of the season.

“We had a slow start to the game but our kids really fought on the defensive end in the second half,” said Versailles coach, Travis Swank. “We gave up just 11 points in the second half – great defensive effort in the third quarter.

Covington took the opening period 7-6 with Versailles battling back taking Period No. 2 by a 12-11 score but not before trailing 6-10 early in the period with the teams going to the halftime break tied at 18-18.

Chase McEldowney paced Versailles with 7 second quarter points including a 3-pointer.

“Chase isn’t going to hurt you out there on the floor,” Swank noted. “He does all the little things right, he doesn’t turn the ball over. He might not get you 10 points every night but he is going to defend the other team’s best player.”

A stingy Tigers defense and explosive offense put the game away in the third quarter with Versailles outscoring the visitors 21-3 sending the teams to the fourth with the Tigers owning a 39-21 advantage.

“We needed to find some fire and intensity,” Coach Swank said of the team’s first half play. “I felt like our energy level was not really good at all in the first half.”

“It was more of a gut-check time,” Swank said of his halftime conversation with players. “Are we going to step up and make some plays – and luckily we were able to do that in the second half. Our defense is what made our offense go there in the third quarter. We have to keep on building on that.”

Coach Swank used his entire bench in fourth quarter action with the home team taking the final quarter 9-8 to give Versailles an impressive 20 point win on Senior Recognition Night.

Jaydon Litten led Versailles and all scorers with a game high 19 points including five second half 3-pointers and 2-2 at the first half charity stripe.

“He’s a good shooter,” Swank said of Litten. “He’s going to have to continue to develop his game because as we go throughout the year, teams are going to scout him – he’s going to have to get to the hole. He has that capability – he just has to trust himself in getting there and finishing around the rim.”

Versailles Tigers recognized on Senior Night: Jared DeMange, Wesley Bruns, Troy Jones, Caleb Heitkamp and Jacob Litten.

“The seniors have been with our program now for four years,” stated Coach Swank. “They’re good solid kids that do what you ask of them and they put a lot of time and effort into it.”

“They have not had a chance to play at the varsity level because they have been behind a couple good classes along the way so this is their year to go out there and show people what they can do,” concluded Swank. “They need to keep on getting better and keep on improving.”

BOXSCORE:

VERSAILLES 49, COVINGTON 29

VERSAILLES – Jaydon. Litten 17, E. McEldowney 8, C. McEldowney 7, T. Jones 5, J. DeMange 4, Jacob Litten 4, C. Hamilton 4 – TOTALS 10 8-12 7 49

COVINGTON – O. Boehringer 11, J. Hamilton 6, J. Barhorst 4, J. Ballard 3, W. Gooding 3, Maxson 2 – TOTALS 7 9-11 2

3-POINTERS

Versailles 7 (Jayden Litten 5, E. McEldowney 1, C. McEldowney 1)

Covington 2 (O. Boehringer 1, W. Gooding 1)

SCORE by QUARTERS:

06-12-21-10 49 Versailles

07-11-03-08 20 Covington

Troy Jones drive to the basket for Versailles in the Tigers win over Covington.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_Troy-Jones-a.jpgTroy Jones drive to the basket for Versailles in the Tigers win over Covington.

Chase McEldowney goes to the line for the Versailles Tigers in the team’s win over the visiting Covington Buccaneers.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_Chase-McEldowney.jpgChase McEldowney goes to the line for the Versailles Tigers in the team’s win over the visiting Covington Buccaneers.

Eli McEldowney drives the lane and scores for the Versailles Tigers in non-conference win over Covington.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_Eli-McEldowney-1-3.jpgEli McEldowney drives the lane and scores for the Versailles Tigers in non-conference win over Covington.

Jared DeMange score for Versailles in the Tigers win over Covington.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_Jared-DeMange-1.jpgJared DeMange score for Versailles in the Tigers win over Covington.

Jaydon Litten drills one of his five 3-pointers to lead Versailles to a win over Covington.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_Jaydon-Litten.jpgJaydon Litten drills one of his five 3-pointers to lead Versailles to a win over Covington. Gaylen Blosser | Darke County Media

Versailles’ Jaydon Litten goes to the line for the Tigers in the team’s win over the Covington Buccs.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_Jaydon-Litten-b.jpgVersailles’ Jaydon Litten goes to the line for the Tigers in the team’s win over the Covington Buccs. Gaylen Blosser | Darke County Media

By Gaylen Blosser

DarkeCountyMedia.com

Contact Darke County Media Sports Editor Gaylen Blosser at [email protected] or 937-569-0122

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